The name game

Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle said, "Anyone who watched a single game during the nationally televised playoffs saw not one reference to the city of Anaheim in the team name" ["Mayor sees simple case of contract breach," News, Jan. 8].

Well, I heard many references to the full name. Surely not every time the team was mentioned, but as many times as not.

But then, the vast majority of the time announcers and such refer to the team, it's simply "the Angeles," as it is when talking casually about any team in any sport.

Additionally, there were numerous mentions of the location of the broadcasts. The viewer was always told that the game was being played in Anaheim and at the start of games welcomed to Anaheim.

Pringle further said, "The more than 3 million people who call Orange County home, the fifth-largest county in the nation, no longer want to be associated with the city of Los Angeles."

Wrong again. While the Register is more popular, some residents of Orange County subscribe to the Los Angeles Times. And I don't know of a single person who ignores Los Angeles television stations in favor of those broadcasting from Anaheim.

Besides, Mr. Mayor, it's not about Anaheim not wanting to associate with Los Angeles. It's about people from all over the Los Angeles metropolitan area being able to associate with the Angels.

If the Angels had to rely exclusively on Orange County for a fan base, our Angels would revert back to the days of attendance resembling that of a minor league team.

I've never seen a case that so strikingly fits the saying of cutting off your nose to spite your face. And even as the city continues to squeeze at the neck of its golden goose, it continues to reap its golden eggs.

Rick Root

Westminster

Taxpayer dollars at stake

The Angels baseball team did not receive a gift of taxpayer dollars. Those dollars upgraded a city-owned facility, Anaheim Stadium. The $20 million of tax money contributed in the stadium lease agreement with Disney was spent on the $100 million upgrade of the ball park. Disney put in the other $80 million.This was a business deal, not dissimilar to a commercial office building lease. Both the owner and the tenant contributed to the building improvements.

Because there is strong local sentiment against naming the baseball club the Los Angeles Angels, Anaheim officials are now taking a big risk with taxpayers' money. Even if the city wins the lawsuit, the award for damages may be much less than the Angel baseball team would have paid for the name change. In about 10 years, the Angels have an exit clause on their 30-year lease. This lawsuit may just push team owner Arte Moreno out of town. Without a tenant in Anaheim Stadium, what will that cost the taxpayers?

Russell Patterson

Orange

Fans need to lighten up

I enjoyed the article, "Mayor sees simple case of contract breach" [News, Jan. 8]. Angels fans are a little hard on the mayor of Anaheim at times because of the legal actions he has taken against the Angels for making Anaheim's name less prominent than "Los Angeles" in the team's title.

First off, Anaheim is not Los Angeles. Curt Pringle's answers to the questions pretty much say it all.

He is just a mayor who is looking out for the best interests of the city he serves and the interests of Orange County residents. Since when should a mayor not put the needs of a city over those of a local baseball team?

Also, the mayor and council members have access to documents and information that cannot be made public. It is for that reason that if City Council members say they are going to lose millions in money and exposure over the new name, who are we to question it?

Angels fans need to lighten up on Curt Pringle and the Anaheim City Council members.

Bill Baxter

Westminster

It's the tradition

It is generally acknowledged by both sides that this case hinges on the intent of the wording in the original contract between Disney and the city.

With this in mind one (preferably a lawyer for the city) need only pick up a copy of the Register's sports page (turn to the jury) and recite a litany of team names: "New York Yankees," "Chicago Cubs," "San Diego Padres" etc.

The lawyer's sonorous baritone beats out the rhythm until suddenly the jarring discord of "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" shocks the senses.

Getting bogged down in lost revenue, city image etc. will not make the case. Tradition, since professional sports were first organized, has been to name a team for the city in which it plays its home games, in this format: "city name, team name." This tradition defines the intent of the current contract. In sports, more than in any other activity, tradition is paramount.

Malcolm D. Fraser

Long Beach

It's Anaheim's business

Get a life, Arte Moreno.

Go mess up some other business but leave our Anaheim Angels alone.

Frannie Mazenko

Garden Grove

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